Sport
England star tipped to follow Jude Bellingham amid Arsenal and Liverpool interest
Borussia Dortmund have been urged to “get the best” out of their latest wonderkid after he was backed for a big-money exit.
The German club has had a number of stars come through their system in recent years. English talent has proven particularly lucrative for Dortmund – Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham in particular shining at the Westfalenstadion.
While the pair have both left, Dortmund have benefited from both earning a combined £161m from Manchester United and Real Madrid respectively. And now 20-year-old striker Jamie Gittens is the latest to be backed for a big-money exit.
Speaking to The i, ex-Dortmund academy coach Gary Gordon said of the youngster: 'He is in good hands. I worked with Nuri Sahin [Dortmund’s current manager] Coming through the club's youth academy, he knows what the club stands for, he knows how important it is to nurture young players like Jamie.
“He also knows that he has to get the best out of him, because these types of players don't stick around for long. It won't be long before he follows Jadon Sancho and Jude Bellingham out the door. But he is certainly at the right club. And also at the right time.”
A graduate of Reading Academy, Gittens moved to Dortmund in 2022 after spells at the academies of Reading, Chelsea and Manchester City. Injuries limited his contributions during his first few seasons.
He scored just five goals during his first three campaigns in Germany. But he has already surpassed that this term. Gittens has eight goals to his name – his latest being a stunning performance against Bayern Munich – and four assists. Dortmund boss Nuri Sahin was full of praise for the winger for his performance.
He said: “You need 1-on-1 players who have speed. He's maturing in his game. We talk a lot about risk and reward. When do I go to the 1-on-1, when do I prepare for it ?” When he's rolling, he's a fantastic player. He has also made great strides defensively.”
Gittens has already been linked with a move to the Premier League due to his brilliant performances. Sky in Germany recently suggested that Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham were among the sides following him, while it was suggested that talks over a deal had already taken place. Gittens, an England Under-21 international, is under contract until the summer of 2028.